Poetry of the Celtic Revival (5)
True and illustrious husbandman of the field of the Gospel,
whose seeds are seen to be the Gospels of Christ
which, with his godly mouth, he sows in the ears of the wise,
ploughing their hearts and minds with the Holy Spirit.
– Sechnall, Audite Omnes Amantes
“The field is the world…”
– Matthew 13.38
While it is day
Jesus said that He must work as long as it is day, that is, as long as He was alive (Jn. 9.4), and He continues working even now. Since we have been sent as He was sent (Jn. 20.21), we must take up good works in our own part of the world field and do them faithfully (Eph. 2.10).
We have work to do every day in “husbanding” our part of Jesus’ field. There are seeds to sow, weeds and stones to cast out, sprouting seeds to nurture and cultivate, and ripening fruit to encourage. Patrick was an “illustrious husbandman” for the Lord, and Sechnall adorns that title with additional observations.
He referred to Patrick as a “good and faithful shepherd of the Gospel’s flock”. He taught and ordained pastors, “giving them heavenly food and clothing/full of divine and holy speeches.” Patrick was the “King’s messenger”; he always had God before him; was “the Lord’s faithful witness”; and he taught the whole counsel of God to the people—including the Psalms and Revelation—and led them in singing hymns to the Lord. Above all:
Girt with the belt of the Lord, by day and night
he prays to the Lord God without ceasing…”
Patrick was a diligent worker and gave himself entirely to fulfilling the calling God appointed to him.
The work we’ve been given to do
We must work like Jesus and Patrick as long as it is day. The work we’ve been given to do is greater than the job at which we work. All our words and deeds sow seeds into the soil of our Personal Mission Field. Every gesture and action impacts the people around us. We are called to cultivate a harvest for the Lord, because the world—and our world as part of the world—is not a weed field, waiting to be burned, but a wheat field, which we are preparing to be harvested.
Paul wrote that whatever we do, even down to the smallest, most quotidian activities, should be done to the glory of God, that is, conscious of His Presence, grateful for His gifts, and determined to know, love, and serve Him in all we do.
This is how Patrick lived. Patrick set the pace for 400 years of revival that saw all of Ireland embrace the Gospel; and, from there, the Word of the Lord spread to Scotland, Wales, the north of Britain, and throughout Gaul, Switzerland, northern Italy, and even to the Scandinavian peninsula.
Our calling is not to change the world but to work while it is day in our part of the world field. The more we seek the Lord in prayer and read and meditate on His Word, our mission field in view, the readier we will be to serve as the Lord’s husbandmen in doing the work appointed to us day by day. Pray daily for the people in your Personal Mission Field. Pray especially, waiting on the Lord for guidance, for those you will see that day. Consider ways of bringing more of the beauty, goodness, and truth of the Lord into your Personal Mission Field. Keep your eyes on Jesus and be always alert to the Spirit’s leading.
This is how we must work while it is day so that we will know the joy of Jesus and do all things to honor and glorify His Name.
For Reflection
1. What do we mean by saying the work we’ve been given to do is greater than the job at which we work?
2. What does your daily work entail? How might you improve your work?
Psalm 84.5-7
Holy Manna: Brethren, We Have Met to Worship
Blessed are they whose strength is founded in Your strength, O LORD above.
All whose hearts in You are grounded journey in Your strength and love.
Though they weep with tears of sadness, grace shall all their way sustain.
In Your Presence, filled with gladness, they shall conquer all their pain.
T. M. Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
As you are daily working your Personal Mission Field, you might find our book, Small Stuff, to be of help. You can order a free PDF for your e-reader by clicking here.
Other columns of interest: This week: Our ReVision series is studying the role of reason in the life of faith. Our Read Moorepodcast continues our series of readings from our book, The Joy and Rejoicing of My Heart. The focus of our Scriptorium daily study is on “Matthew: The Coming of the Kingdom.” Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
